A 1st: Uncle allowed to indirectly donate his kidney to niece

For the first time in the state, a maternal uncle has been allowed to donate a kidney for his niece.It will be an indirect, domino transplant - the city's third - involving three patients and three donors.January 04, 2016, 08:53 IST

The organ transplant rules do not recognize a maternal uncle as immediate family member who can donate organs, but state medical education minister Vinod Tawde used his quasi-judicial powers to make the exception after confirming there was no commercial angle involved and that it was a matter of life and death for two couples and a young girl.

The lead taken by Tawde assumes significance because it will go a long way in promoting kidney transplants. The minister said the government is trying to simplify organ donation rules and has approached the Centre.

Only in India the healthcare financing is very small when compared to the financing by the other forces rather than the patient himself or herself paying out of pocket. Having 70-75% of the expenses as out-of-pocket, in my opinion, is not a right approach to managing healthcare in a country where the patients tend to sub-optimally purchase healthcare if he/she has to pay out-of-pocket.